🔄 How to sync your Lent progress

• On your main phone, open this page and tap “Generate sync code (copy)”. Send that code to yourself (WhatsApp, iMessage, email, etc.).

• On your other device, open this same page, paste the code into the box, then tap “Apply sync code on this device” – your streaks, days and settings will match your main phone.

⚠️ Note: If you generate a new sync code later, it will overwrite the progress on the other device with whatever is on your main device.

For this Lent program, we want to be simple, honest and consistent. No loopholes, just real growth.

There has been debate as to the topic of protein shakes, gum, and mints. So what really counts and why?

🧃 Protein shakes count as a meal

If your protein shake has calories (milk, oats, banana, honey, peanut butter, etc.), then it’s food, not “nothing”.

On fast days we don’t want to play games with God by saying, “It’s just a drink, so it doesn’t count.”

• If it fills you up or replaces a meal → it counts as a meal.

• You can still use protein to care for your health, but don’t use shakes as a way to dodge the sacrifice.

• Fasting isn’t about starving yourself; it’s about saying no to comfort so you can say a bigger yes to God.
  

🍬 Gum, Mints, Sugar & “Sweet” Drinks – Why They’re Not Allowed

This one gets pushed back on, so here’s the clear why:

1) They keep your appetite and craving “switched on”

Even “sugar-free” gum, mints, sweet drinks, or “just a little” honey keeps your brain chasing flavour. That works against the spirit of fasting, which is learning to sit with a bit of hunger, boredom, and discomfort without always reaching for sweetness.

2) They’re basically loopholes (mini lollies in disguise)

Most gum and mints are sweet and flavoured. Same with honey, flavoured milk, sweetened coffee/tea, syrups, and “healthy” sweet drinks.
If we say “no sweets / no junk” but still have sweet things through the day, we’re technically obeying but practically dodging the sacrifice.

3) “But it’s for my bad breath…” 😮‍💨

Let’s be real: a lot of guys say, “Yeah but I only have gum/mints for bad breath.”

But if we’re honest, most of the time it’s:

• Habit

• Comfort

• Flavour

• Something to do when we’re bored or anxious

And even if your breath is bad, there are better, more honest ways to deal with it that don’t break the fast:

✅ Brush your teeth properly (morning & night, and after strong-smelling foods if needed)
✅ Floss — bad breath is often from stuff stuck between teeth, not “not enough gum”
✅ Use mouthwash if you really need to freshen up
✅ Drink plenty of water — dry mouth = worse breath

You don’t need gum or mints to be hygienic.
You do need basic hygiene and discipline.

So for this Lent program:

❌ No chewing gum
❌ No mints (even “for breath”)

❌ No sugar (in drinks or food “extras”)
❌ No honey (yes, honey counts — it’s sweetness)
❌ No milk in tea or coffee (no lattes, cappuccinos, iced coffees, etc.)

✅ Only black tea and black coffee (no sweeteners, no honey, no milk)
✅ Yes to brushing, flossing, rinsing, and drinking water
✅ Yes to being confident enough not to rely on constant flavour in your mouth

🛑 No loopholes – we’re training the heart ❤️

Lent is not:

“How close can I get to the line without technically breaking the rules?”

Lent is:

“How can I honestly grow in discipline, self-control and love?”

We’re doing this not to be “hardcore for the sake of it”, but to become men who can say no to themselves, so they can say yes to Christ, to their future families, to their brothers, and to the people God puts in their lives.

It’s only 40 days – but the habits you build can last far beyond Lent.